Hot Summer... and a move...

It's been awhile. Summer is racing by, hot n' muggy... I failed at my New Year's resolution months ago to have a monthly budget but now I'm trying to not acquire any new clothes... Since in a few months I'll have to have all the clothes I want shipped to Australia! I'm moving!! In a few months I'll have to report some fashionable happenings down under...

Sexy Summer Sandals

Pour la Victoire Women's Raquel Flat Sandal - they make me think of Uma Thurman kicking butt in Kill Bill.
These ones are little intense - ZiGiny Women's Starter Sandals. I'm sure they would turn heads:
These espadrilles remind me of jika tabi. They have the split toe thing going on. They are by Dolce Vita.
Less fierce, more gorgeous, I love these t-strap sandals by Badgley Mischka!

Found these sexy sandals by Georgina Goodman on shoeblog.com I was struck by the great combination of bright colours and shine, though my favorite part is the overall shapes. The three "O" 's wrap around your feet to cause design gorgeousness. I discovered the second image when I hit the link to endless.com and saw the champagne pink and black combo - a favorite of mine. They even look comfy to walk in, wedge heels and ankle strap and all.

Like these Marc by Marc Jacobs Platforms as well:

Maybelline EyeStudio Photos

I've been experimenting with the Maybelline EyeStudio kit. It came with a lot of palettes, all very sparkly. I did a lot of blending and soft looks for work and glammed it up when I went out at night. Unfortunately, none of the looks I created photographed well... Well, I think my makeup looks nice but it's hard to see real gradient... Here are a few of the better shots:



I gave a pile of palettes to my sister Karen. Her pic is nice, you can see some golden brown eyeshadow.
I intend to to write a review specifically about the 4 mascaras included in the kit. I'm honestly still experimenting with all the products.

Maybelline EyeStudio kit

I received a Maybelline EyeStudio kit - it's the entire collection! Mascara, eye shadow palettes and cream eye liner liner. I've been trying out the collection and taking photos since I got it. I've been creating a lot of softer 'for the office' looks and the occasional glammed up babe look for when I'm out at a fun event.

More pictures to come...

American Apparel

Urban Outfitters... I'm leaving you for American Apparel. I'll visit every so often and see if you skirts are still just barely able to cover my butt cheeks and whether or not you're still making ill-shaped cut out style tops... Ok, I'm being harsh. I still love Urban Outfitters. For the most part though, I am interested in getting away from details and strong preppy/hobo trendiness influences. I am in love with huge baggy tops over tight bottoms and tight tops over big flowy pants. And I love rompers/one-pieces/jumpers/onesies whatever you decide to call them. Harem pants I love. High-waisted bottoms, basic pieces cut extra long or short, loose vs. tight and layering are doing it for me. Plus - I'm just dyyyying for summer to come... Yesterday I was beckoning summer by putting on my new sleeveless chambray jumper, flat stringy sandals and floppy straw hat and doing a ritualistic dance in my living room. (Actually I just got my husband to take some photos of said outfit.) I picked up this jumper yesterday and I adore it! It's so cute! Comfy! Flattering! Fun! Summery! I got it in 'black' (white with overload of black flecks) and I think it looks nicer on me than it does on the model in the photos on the American Apparel site. Sometimes it's a little frustrating when you want to see a garment and every photo they shoot had the model raising her arms or yanking on the fabric... At least for longer garments they post a length measurement and a good description. Reviews are also often bountiful and helpful.

My goal for the year to not spend more than $53 a month was going quite well. I was feeling so frugal that I stopped counting every cent and dollar I was spending. This year, I've only bought 2 takeout coffees. I have seen a couple movies at the theater and did a small bit of clothes shopping in January. I've been pretty good! But now I've made another purchase from American Apparel, including my new jumper. There are books and movies I want and they are actually 'good for my career' type stuff so I don't see these as 'guilty purchases'. But a purchase is a purchase and if you don't need something it technically is a guilty. (Not so much guilty as not necessary.) So will probably just continue to make my own coffee (with my adored moka pot) and walk to work and try to be frugal but reasonable with my purchases. Maybe I'll add it up and see how much I've spent. But not today.

Through American Apparel I also discovered Viva Radio which I am really digging. They are very specific about what gets played when during air time. I've enjoyed some slow punky techno rock stuff and also listed to some soul and now it's some twangy, slow love song stuff. I love music but I don't have much of it coming into my ears on a regular basis. I am excited that I've found this way to listen to music I enjoy and so far I've only recognised one song and then one artist. It's all new for me which is brilliant. I like to listen to 'No Coincidence', a techy dance song by BeatBurrito which I love to listen to when Viva Radio isn't making me happy.

Pictures! These are me sporting a crazy pair of sunglasses I found on e-bay that I've been waiting for summer to wear, my chambray suit/floppy hat summer combo and a jumpsuit I got in January form UO paired with a vintage beaded belt. I had to order it online and I got it a size too big. I didn't want to deal with returning it and I don't mind the oversized nature, but I have to tape the front opening to my boobs to keep the top on. Also the photos are completely unedited, I could not be bothered.

What I wore Jan 2 - print and print

Kinda late with posting these but this is what I wore when I went to see Imaginarium on Saturday. A few of my favorite pieces here, half of my newspaper suit and my zebra printed jeans.

New Blog Title Design! and I saw The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

I saw The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus directed by Terry Gilliam this afternoon and enjoyed looking upon all the gorgeous costumes, people and special effects in the film. It was very entertaining, albeit a little confusing. It was a fantasy vacation for the mind. I'm not totally sure what to think of it... The ending was a little extra happy for my liking. Overall a very nice film. Great acting.

Here's Lily Cole as Valentina

2010: The Year to Make it Work

what I wore today

I have (what seems) to be an intense New Year's Resolution this year. I came up with it yesterday after some boxing week shopping. (There was this gorgeous crocheted full length sweater I wanted from Fashion Crimes...) I had a rather splurgy 2009. My husband and me both. (Got married - [just realised I never posted any wedding photos!? Only honeymoon photos...], went to Disneyworld for our honeymoon, lots of clothes, shoes and makeup were added to my wardrobe, Steve and I got splurgy Halloween costumes and I got an outfit for the Gaga concert, expensive Christmas gifts bought, everyday gifts (camera), concert tickets, new TV, couch, furniture.......) I think I have become accustomed to spending a lot more than I used to. I used to be very frugal and I got my student loan payed off as quickly as I could after graduating. I need some more frugal time. I'm sick of feeling guilty and anxious about spending. So this year I've decided that there will be a small budget for myself to use frivolously each month. It sounds like a small amount to me right now, especially with shopping trip totals in recent memory, but I do think it's totally manageable for me to still do pretty much whatever my friends are up to each month and maybe get something small for myself every now and then, be it my favorite foundation, an espresso or some new fabric. The magic number is 53. I have $53 to spend each month on ME. I figured out my living expenses and the leftover I am going to save or invest. If I don't spend the total $53 allowance one month, it will carry over to the next month. I will have to decide what costs fall under 'necessity' and what fall under 'splurge'. There is one clothing item I really would love to add to my wardrobe right now, I really want a onesie with a harem pant style, something like this. And then I spied these back zip up cigarette jeans... And I want a grey lipstick... Maybe some lovely perfume... Well 2010 will be the year to...

MAKE IT WORK!

With my $53 budget I can choose to go see a movie with friends or buy some zippers to stick into the back of jeans I already own... I will have to love my wardrobe for what it is now and if I really want something new or different that is out of the budget, I will just have to make it. This army has a sewing machine and a box of fabric and patterns!!! Also, there is this necklace I've been wanting to make for ages, but I am not ready to make it just yet. I am collecting lot of items to make it with. It will be very chunky and random. Though since I am collecting all the pieces over time, each item on the necklace will have a history personal to me. I've also been keeping a mountain of old jeans with the dream of making a ballgown out of them. I may not have enough jeans, I certainly haven't had the time to tackle that project yet. I also want to silkscreen some t-shirts and stockings! So many things I want to make! Maybe this year I will find the time for a couple projects... I got a keyboard for Christmas from Stephen and I am sooo excited for that! I want to have at least one song well practised to play for next Christmas. And I've got my classical animation demo reel to finish... So many projects... $53 a month... I wish I could buy more hours for each day...

my new keyboard!!! (Now it has a home in my living room on a stand instead of my parents living room floor)

the perfect breakfast which was actually my dinner today: fruit, granola with nuts/seeds/dried fruit, low fat vanilla yogurt, a drizzle of maple syrup, dashes of cinnamon, cloves, cayenne pepper... no preservatives, aspartame, sucralose or anything I can't pronouce!!! The fruit and syrup were leftover from the New Years Day brunch I had at my place. Made cappucinios and waffles with a mountain of fresh cut fruit for all my friends to nosh on.

BLOG REVAMP COMING SOON